# CVE-2008-4096: Code injection in n/a

> Authenticated users can execute arbitrary code in phpMyAdmin via a crafted sort_by parameter in server_databases.php.

- **Severity:** High 8.5 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 17 Sep 2008
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2008-4096, GHSA-j99q-43xw-28f9

## What is CVE-2008-4096?

CVE-2008-4096 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Phpmyadmin Phpmyadmin, published on 17 Sep 2008. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

libraries/database_interface.lib.php in phpMyAdmin before 2.11.9.1 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via a request to server_databases.php with a sort_by parameter containing PHP sequences, which are processed by create_function.

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-4096?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Phpmyadmin Phpmyadmin.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-4096?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2008-4096 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-4096 exists.

Public exploit code:

- phpMyAdmin 3.2 - 'server_databases.php' Remote Command Execution (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Phpmyadmin Phpmyadmin

- [CVE-2008-7251](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-7251/): Misconfiguration in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2008-7252](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-7252/): phpMyAdmin unsafely handles temporary files (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2007-0203](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2007-0203/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2004-1147](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-1147/): Command injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2020-22452](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-22452/): phpmyadmin contains SQL Injection vulnerability (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-4096 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-4096 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Phpmyadmin Phpmyadmin, published on 17 Sep 2008. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-4096 exists.

Affected product: Phpmyadmin Phpmyadmin. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-4096/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-4096/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-4096
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-4096
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-4096

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-4096/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.